Resting Sea Otter Harriman Fiord Iceberg Alaska

Unsure of whether to stay resting on an iceberg or to dive back into the cold waters of Harriman Fiord in Prince William Sound, Alaska, a Sea Otter keeps a close watch on the photographer.

While resting atop a small iceberg floating aimlessly around in Harriman Fiord in Prince William Sound, Alaska, a Sea Otter regulates his own body temperature after swimming in the chilly water. A warm coat of dark brown fur except around its face and along its chest which is lighter in color, this Sea Otter will stay within a close proximity of the coastal shores swimming in a depth of about 50 to 75 feet of water in search of food.

The main source of nourishment comes from sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans and several different types of fish. As an adult, the Sea Otter can weigh between 30 to 100 pounds making them the heaviest species in the weasel family, but one of the smallest in the marine world.

Somewhere between 150,000 and 300,000 Sea Otters once resided along the North Pacific from northern Japan to the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. After being hunted and many damaging oil spills, the numbers decreased dramatically where they were near extinction. The numbers have increased over the years with the Sea Otter still remaining on the endangered species list, but when visiting the Harriman Fiord, sightings of a Sea Otter resting on an iceberg are more common than in 1911.

A sea otter sits on a small iceberg and thermoregulates in Harriman Fiord in Prince William Sound Alaska

Options for photo "Resting Sea Otter Harriman Fiord Iceberg Alaska":

Tags - related pictures:

Related Images for Wildlife Photos:

Insect	Pup And Mum Floating	Caribou Migrate
Moose In Rut	Winter Snow Coyote Yellowstone National Park	Alaska Caribou Bull Big Antlers

Photo Title: Resting Sea Otter Harriman Fiord Iceberg Alaska

Unsure of whether to stay resting on an iceberg or to dive back into the cold waters of Harriman Fiord in Prince William Sound, Alaska, a Sea Otter keeps a close watch on the photographer.